Cancer: Lab Tests

Below, I will present — for those new to them — the significance in the broadest sense of each of the following tumor markers.
General Marker CEA:
CEA (Carcinoembryonic antigen) is an inadequate marker — as a diagnostic tool, an elevated CEA too often provides false positives. Most elevated levels that are true positive appear at late [...]

Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP)

Treatment of ITP using Western Medicine:

One method of treatment for ITP is by using hormone therapy e.g. the use of prednisone (强的松), prednisolone (强的松龙) or methyl-prednisolone (甲基强的松龙). However, this method has its disadvantages because it may worsen the situation of people at risk of or already with hypertension or diabetes. It may also increase
susceptibility to [...]

Chai Hu Gui Zhi Gan Jiang Tang (line 147)

伤寒五六日，已发汗而复下之，胸胁满微结，小便不利，渴而不呕，但头汗出，往来寒热，心烦者，此为未解也，柴胡桂枝干姜汤主之。
This verse translates as: Cold damage has lasted for five to six days, the person has already perspired and also precipitated, the chest and ribs are distended and slightly stuck. Urine is hindered, there is thirst, no nausea, and there is perspiration only on the head, heat and cold come in cycles, and there is [...]

Fevers and sweating

Fevers usually make an appearance during an infection. The body uses them to fight off the bad guys. This is what happens:

Infection infiltrates.
Immune system called into action. Mainly the non-specific WBCs which generate pyrogens.
Pyrogens cause the temperature regulating center in the hypothalamus to increase what is considered “normal  body temperature.”
Temperature rises, the immune system is [...]

Gan Jiang Ling Shu Tang

肾着之病，其人身体重，腰中冷，如坐水中，形如水状，反不渴，小便自利，饮食如故，病属下焦，身劳汗出，衣（一作表）里冷湿，久久得之，腰以下冷痛，腹重如带五千钱，甘姜苓术汤主之。
In this illness called shen zhuo, the person feels heavy in the body, cold in the abdomen, as if he were sitting in water, amorphous like water. He is not thirsty, urination is unhindered, appetite is as normal. The illness is in the lower jiao, the body is tired and there is perspiration. Especially when [...]

Fibrocystic Breast Disease and Fibroadenomas

Fibrocystic Breast Disease
Fibrocystic breast disease is often seen in the clinic. Most patients are able to identify their disease as fibrocystic breast disease because the characteristic growths — from a general bumpiness of the breast to cystic growths — usually vary with the menstrual cycle, becoming most prominent just before the start of the menstrual [...]